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Post by Fractal on Jun 27, 2011 19:46:09 GMT
Just thought I would post a weekly wild flower of current interest.  Tragopogon pratensis (Goatsbeard or Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon). This member of the Daisy family is flowering and fruiting now. It normally only shows up (at least from a distance) by the huge seed heads or clocks around now. The leaves mimic a grass perfectly, even going as far as having parrallel veining. It belongs to the highly advanced Chicory section of the daisy family and includes our familiar "friend" the Dandelion. One of its common names comes from the regular closing of the yellow flowers almost bang on around noon. This was apparently used by farme workers of old to judge when to have lunch. This picture, taken this morning. The second has a large pre-emergent clock with it.   |
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Jun 27, 2011 20:13:13 GMT
Thanks Steve. I can't say I've spotted one down here. I always go out armed with my pocket guide but it isn't always easy to tell the close ones apart.
I love wild flowers, they don't need staking or mollycoddling or colour coordinating, they just get on with it.
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Post by Lou78W on Jun 27, 2011 20:15:46 GMT
What a lovely idea SteveN ....I must admit to not being too familiar with our lovely wild flowers...I look forward to being educated ;D |
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Post by Fractal on Jun 27, 2011 20:23:32 GMT
I'll try to remember to post each Monday with a little story and some info |
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Post by Lou78W on Jun 27, 2011 20:24:35 GMT
Lovely....I'll remind you if you forget...   |
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Post by merlin on Jun 29, 2011 17:09:30 GMT
What a lovely idea SteveN ....I must admit to not being too familiar with our lovely wild flowers...I look forward to being educated ;D Me too Lou, and yes a brilliant idea, really like the history. Didn't the garden mag do one? |
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Post by Fractal on Jun 29, 2011 21:29:32 GMT
This is a pic of a mature open clock I took quite a few years ago and submitted to an American garden site. The copyright stamp isn't mine, it's put on automatically by the site! Beautiful structure I think you will agree  |
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Post by hywel on Jun 29, 2011 21:53:05 GMT
They're fascinating. I haven't seen any around here. There are so many wild flowers out now you'll be spoilt for choice as to which one to post next |
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Post by merlin on Jun 30, 2011 5:28:57 GMT
Forgive my higgerance but what's a clock, is it a Dandylion? Brilliant pic SteveN
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Post by Lou78W on Jun 30, 2011 6:22:15 GMT
This is a pic of a mature open clock I took quite a few years ago and submitted to an American garden site. The copyright stamp isn't mine, it's put on automatically by the site! Beautiful structure I think you will agree That is rather lovely SteveN ;D |
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Post by Fractal on Jun 30, 2011 6:31:03 GMT
Forgive my higgerance but what's a clock, is it a Dandylion? Brilliant pic SteveN Sorry, yes a "clock" is just a name usually given to the dense ball of seeds with a pappus (feathery attachment to aid dispersal). The clock name appears to come from the children's pastime of blowing it, saying a time of day, blowing it again, saying the next hour on etc. until all the seeds have gone., hence clock. I remember doing this myself when I was very small though not with one of these. Mine were with the usual Dandelion or occasional Coltsfoot. |
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Post by Fractal on Jun 30, 2011 6:33:14 GMT
It is Lou. Very pleased with the detail in the shot. Better ones on the web though showing all the cross struts (almost like feathers really). Isn't nature both clever and beautiful.
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Jun 30, 2011 6:33:38 GMT
A great combination of Mother nature and great photography, both get the thumbs up from me |
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Post by grindle on Jun 30, 2011 6:44:52 GMT
:)great photos SteveN
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Post by grindle on Jun 30, 2011 7:03:31 GMT
 Have you by any chance got a name for this? I took the picture Sunday, but I get loads of them growing in my front wall too, I really like them |
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